Regulation is the ultimate win. In a breath-in-the-body, I-know-my-center kind of way. It's not easy. Especially when there's pressure, conflict, rage, grief, or even just the ache of being a messy, imperfect human. But staying regulated—emotionally, physically, energetically—means I don't have to abandon myself in order to prove myself” ~ Kris Carr Hi friends!
This weeks’ sunny start in West Michigan has been glorious! I’m grateful for the blue sky and the sunshine because it makes everything seem just a bit brighter. ☀️ I read an email newsletter a few days ago that is really staying with me. In the best of ways. Kris Carr wrote about preparing herself for a really difficult conversation and found that she was rehearsing the whole thing in hopes of coming out “on top.” Then, something shifted for her. She quieted herself enough to hear a little voice that said, “The goal isn’t to win, it’s to stay regulated.” I’ve often thought about our ability to respond rather than react. If we can take the moment to check in, to breathe, to move, before reacting in a situation? We have a better chance of responding in a way we’re going to feel good about rather than reacting in a way we might regret. The chemicals in our brains are powerful, and if we’re reacting from a place full of cortisol? We’re definitely not at our best. 😫 However, what if we added to that? What if we went beyond that by avoiding the cortisol bath altogether? What if while moving in the world for the next week, we made it our goal to stay regulated? There’s something about that as my moving meditation that instantly softens me. I view life as a breath by breath, moving meditation. What if I kept that breath rhythm as my regulation metronome? I think it would help me drop my shoulders a bit more and relax my jaw. If I keep my focus on remaining regulated as I move about the world? I imagine it will be like having an internal bright blue sky and burst of sunshine. Need more inspiration or guidance? Take another look at the quotation above ⬆️ To close it out today, a note to any and all of you who have ever attended Yacht Club Yoga. Thank you! 🙏🏽♥️ My initial six-week attempt at having Saturday class at SYC back in 2017? Class been happening consistently, year round, ever since. It’s a VERY special place to hold practice, and I love being there with all of you. This winter, due to my travel schedule, our Saturday Yacht Club Yoga class will be taking a bit of a sabbatical. Just for a few months. No Yacht Club Yoga, November - February. I promise, we’ll make a spectacular return sometime in the Spring (mid March?). I hope you’ll ALL come out and join me. And, we’ll have one VERY SPECIAL opportunity to gather at SYC to celebrate Winter Solstice on Sunday, December 21. Please save the date to join me and Teresa Van Eyk for gentle movement, meditation, and sound. It’s my favorite class of the year. ✨ ~m
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“To love, we need to be sensitive to those around us, which is impossible if we are always racing through life engrossed in all the things we need to do before sunset.” ~ Eknath Easwaran Hello!
We are experiencing some wet and windy days here in West Michigan! 💨🍁 ☔️ These blustery times are ideal for reflecting on what shifts we want for ourselves. 🙌🏽 Creating shifts in our lives may seem really difficult. Or expensive. Or painful. Or super time consuming. And yet, I don’t think it has to be that way. I think big shifts can happen through small internal adjustments. And guess what? There’s no physical pain involved! And, it’s free! How? Well, I think it begins by observing our internal landscape. That’s right. Simply slowing down enough to notice. You know, noticing when you feel that little pang . . . or hear that little voice. If we’re so hurried. And busy. And determined to get things done. Most likely, we are unable to hear, or we are ignoring, those small signals from our body and being. 😔 Reminder: stress is LOUD. It can block out almost everything else that’s being communicated in our bodies and beings. So, we need to turn down the volume of the thinking mind. Quiet the stress. And tune up the awareness in our body. One fantastic way to do this? Gift ourselves moments of real rest. I’m not necessarily talking about napping . . . although there are days when I am a FAN! How about a midday savasana? You know, those amazing 20 minutes where you put everything on Do Not Disturb, lay down, cover up, and zone out? Or, maybe you opt for a few device-free-moments in nature? Turns out these brain breaks actually increase our productivity! And, they help steady us for the next meeting, conversation, or challenge. If we all do small things for our internal well-being, I think it could make big differences in the world around us. And guess what? We’re all worth it! With love and light, ~m P.S. SAVE THE DATE | Sunday, December 21 | WINTER SOLSTICE YOGA @ SYC 
“Remember something about attention. Yes, it’s possible to buy, grab, or even steal it. But it’s far better to earn it.” ~ Baratunde Thurston Hello friends!
When I read the Baratunde Thurston quotation up above, it ignited a spark. The stories we tell to others, and to ourselves, help create meaning, and order, and shape our identities. Our stories can connect us to others through shared experiences, and our stories can separate us by exposing perceived differences. So, it’s important to observe our own narratives. We are participants in creating our reality, because we have real power in deciding what meaning we attach to our own stories. We are telling ourselves a story. And attaching meaning to it. So, what is worth earning our attention? Fact: negative incidents and moments sure do like to dominate. At times, it seems the frustrating situation will try and hijack everything else that happened in a day! But, that’s our own thinking. And while our thinking shapes our reality, our thoughts are just that. Our thoughts. We can shift those thoughts, and it’s simple to get started. When the mind is chattering away, take a moment to pause. Observe what it's saying. Notice it. And then watch those thoughts float on by, like big puffy clouds. Then, see what comes in next. As if you are observing your own thought bubbles emerging. Don’t get too attached to any one thought. Notice anything that’s on heavy rotation. Pay attention to the tone, the word choice, the energy of the thoughts. If there’s something dark, or unsettling, or harsh, or critical dominating the scene, observe it. Thank it for showing up. And let it drift on by. Then, invite in compassion. And gratitude. Allowing yourself to soften into a different narrative groove. This week? As I listen to my own internal narrative, I’m going to see what’s worth earning my attention, and keep moving in that direction. Full of love and light, ~m 
“There is a crack in everything, that’s how the light gets in.” ~ Leonard Cohen Hello my friends!
Today? Gratitude. For each and every one of you. I am so thankful our paths have crossed and that we continue fostering our connection with one another. You are an important part of the fabric of my life, and all of these gorgeous threads weave one magnificent tapestry! This newsletter is nearing its 4th anniversary, and we’ve been on quite a journey together over the years. I feel super supported, and uplifted, by our community. Writing (almost) every week always helps me gain clarity. Taking time to get still, reflect, and decide what it is I have to say? It’s a challenging exercise. And, oh-so-rewarding. My primary focus is speaking with an open heart, and a clear mind, in hopes of offering something of service for you. The pace of our world can seem frenetic. And life can be chaotic. My aim is that in these few moments of pause we can drop our shoulders a bit. Relax our jaw. Enjoy a quiet moment to reset and restore. So, thank you for your presence here. For being a gift in my life. Keep shining brightly 🌟 ~m 
“When we start to see the invisible gifts embedded in so many facets of our lives, we can’t help but pour it forward, and that spirit of service becomes a natural expression of grateful living.” ~ Audrey Lin Hi friends!
September in West Michigan was stunning! Blue sky, sunny days, cooler nights . . . my kind of weather! As we turn the page into October, I hope this loveliness stretches on and on and on. Oh, and we could use some rain. ☺️ Speaking of stretching, I have been feeling stretched a little too thin lately. It’s undeniable that there’s a lot going on in my world, and in THE world, so today I want to take a minute and remind us of the power of rest. When I start to feel a little ragged, or rough, or weary, my patterning can take me into some places I don’t feel great about. I’m less patient. More easily frustrated. I feel a real desire to withdraw. And maybe that last one can be the gentle nudge I need. I don’t need to withdraw completely, but I can gift my body and my being an opportunity to rest and reset. Maybe I feel I don’t have “time” to rest, and yet I know that time spent in constructed relaxation will pay dividends. 🙌🏽 In yoga, you may think of Savasana as something we only do at the end of a class. But, Savasana is a powerful tool for our nervous system ANY time of day! I love how Lizzie Lasater talks about It: “Savasana is one of the most powerful tools I know for nervous system management. You lie down. You cover up. You take your physical comfort seriously. You remember what safety feels like. You notice the urge to fix and plan. You smile at your spinning mind. You soften.” Yep! I need more of that. And, why do I resist gifting myself that? 🤔 Hmmmmmm. That may be a discussion for another day. 😉 So, if you’re feeling run down, stretched thin, amped up, exhausted by it all, or just a little worn out . . . why not give Savasana a try? I can’t wait to put on my eye shade and get underneath my blanket. 🥰 Full of heart light and love, ~m |
AuthorMichelle Shaw: Archives
November 2025
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